Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 7

Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

8.7.1

श्रीशुक उवाच ते नागराजमामन्‍त्र्य फलभागेन वासुकिम् । परिवीय गिरौ तस्मिन् नेत्रमब्धिं मुदान्विता: । आरेभिरे सुरा यत्ता अमृतार्थे कुरूद्वह ॥ १ ॥

sri-suka uvaca te naga-rajam amantrya phala-bhagena vasukim pariviya girau tasmin netram abdhim mudanvitah arebhire sura yatta amrtarthe kurudvaha

Sukadeva Gosvami said: O best of the Kurus, Maharaja Pariksit, the demigods and demons summoned Vasuki, king of the serpents, requesting him to come and promising to give him a share of the nectar. They coiled Vasuki around Mandara Mountain as a churning rope, and with great pleasure they endeavored to produce nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

8.7.2

हरि: पुरस्ताज्जगृहे पूर्वं देवास्ततोऽभवन् ॥ २ ॥

harih purastaj jagrhe purvam devas tato ’bhavan

The Personality of Godhead, Ajita, grasped the front portion of the snake, and then the demigods followed.

8.7.3

तन्नैच्छन् दैत्यपतयो महापुरुषचेष्टितम् । न गृह्णीमो वयं पुच्छमहेरङ्गममङ्गलम् । स्वाध्यायश्रुतसम्पन्ना: प्रख्याता जन्मकर्मभि: ॥ ३ ॥

tan naicchan daitya-patayo maha-purusa-cestitam na grhnimo vayam puccham aher angam amangalam svadhyaya-sruta-sampannah prakhyata janma-karmabhih

The leaders of the demons thought it unwise to hold the tail, the inauspicious portion of the snake. Instead, they wanted to hold the front, which had been taken by the Personality of Godhead and the demigods, because that portion was auspicious and glorious. Thus the demons, on the plea that they were all highly advanced students of Vedic knowledge and were all famous for their birth and activities, protested that they wanted to hold the front of the snake.

8.7.4

इति तूष्णीं स्थितान्दैत्यान् विलोक्य पुरुषोत्तम: । स्मयमानो विसृज्याग्रं पुच्छं जग्राह सामर: ॥ ४ ॥

iti tusnim sthitan daityan vilokya purusottamah smayamano visrjyagram puccham jagraha samarah

Thus the demons remained silent, opposing the desire of the demigods. Seeing the demons and understanding their motive, the Personality of Godhead smiled. Without discussion, He immediately accepted their proposal by grasping the tail of the snake, and the demigods followed Him.

8.7.5

कृतस्थानविभागास्त एवं कश्यपनन्दना: । ममन्थु: परमं यत्ता अमृतार्थं पयोनिधिम् ॥ ५ ॥

krta-sthana-vibhagas ta evam kasyapa-nandanah mamanthuh paramam yatta amrtartham payo-nidhim

After thus adjusting how the snake was to be held, the sons of Kasyapa, both demigods and demons, began their activities, desiring to get nectar by churning the ocean of milk.

8.7.6

मथ्यमानेऽर्णवे सोऽद्रिरनाधारो ह्यपोऽविशत् । ध्रियमाणोऽपि बलिभिर्गौरवात् पाण्डुनन्दन ॥ ६ ॥

mathyamane ’rnave so ’drir anadharo hy apo ’visat dhriyamano ’pi balibhir gauravat pandu-nandana

O son of the Pandu dynasty, when Mandara Mountain was thus being used as a churning rod in the ocean of milk, it had no support, and therefore although held by the strong hands of the demigods and demons, it sank into the water.

8.7.7

ते सुनिर्विण्णमनस: परिम्‍लानमुखश्रिय: । आसन् स्वपौरुषे नष्टे दैवेनातिबलीयसा ॥ ७ ॥

te sunirvinna-manasah parimlana-mukha-sriyah asan sva-pauruse naste daivenatibaliyasa

Because the mountain had been sunk by the strength of providence, the demigods and demons were disappointed, and their faces seemed to shrivel.

8.7.8

विलोक्य विघ्नेशविधिं तदेश्वरो दुरन्तवीर्योऽवितथाभिसन्धि: । कृत्वा वपु: कच्छपमद्भ‍ुतं महत् प्रविश्य तोयं गिरिमुज्जहार ॥ ८ ॥

vilokya vighnesa-vidhim tadesvaro duranta-viryo ’vitathabhisandhih krtva vapuh kacchapam adbhutam mahat pravisya toyam girim ujjahara

Seeing the situation that had been created by the will of the Supreme, the unlimitedly powerful Lord, whose determination is infallible, took the wonderful shape of a tortoise, entered the water, and lifted the great Mandara Mountain.

8.7.9

तमुत्थितं वीक्ष्य कुलाचलं पुन: समुद्यता निर्मथितुं सुरासुरा: । दधार पृष्ठेन स लक्षयोजन- प्रस्तारिणा द्वीप इवापरो महान् ॥ ९ ॥

tam utthitam viksya kulacalam punah samudyata nirmathitum surasurah dadhara prsthena sa laksa-yojana- prastarina dvipa ivaparo mahan

When the demigods and demons saw that Mandara Mountain had been lifted, they were enlivened and encouraged to begin churning again. The mountain rested on the back of the great tortoise, which extended for eight hundred thousand miles like a large island.

8.7.10

सुरासुरेन्द्रैर्भुजवीर्यवेपितं परिभ्रमन्तं गिरिमङ्ग पृष्ठत: । बिभ्रत् तदावर्तनमादिकच्छपो मेनेऽङ्गकण्डूयनमप्रमेय: ॥ १० ॥

surasurendrair bhuja-virya-vepitam paribhramantam girim anga prsthatah bibhrat tad-avartanam adi-kacchapo mene ’nga-kanduyanam aprameyah

O King, when the demigods and demons, by the strength of their arms, rotated Mandara Mountain on the back of the extraordinary tortoise, the tortoise accepted the rolling of the mountain as a means of scratching His body, and thus He felt a pleasing sensation.

8.7.11

तथासुरानाविशदासुरेण रूपेण तेषां बलवीर्यमीरयन् । उद्दीपयन् देवगणांश्च विष्णु- र्दैवेन नागेन्द्रमबोधरूप: ॥ ११ ॥

tathasuran avisad asurena rupena tesam bala-viryam irayan uddipayan deva-ganams ca visnur daivena nagendram abodha-rupah

Thereafter, Lord Visnu entered the demons as the quality of passion, the demigods as the quality of goodness, and Vasuki as the quality of ignorance to encourage them and increase their various types of strength and energy.

8.7.12

उपर्यगेन्द्रं गिरिराडिवान्य आक्रम्य हस्तेन सहस्रबाहु: । तस्थौ दिवि ब्रह्मभवेन्द्रमुख्यै- रभिष्टुवद्भ‍ि: सुमनोऽभिवृष्ट: ॥ १२ ॥

upary agendram giri-rad ivanya akramya hastena sahasra-bahuh tasthau divi brahma-bhavendra-mukhyair abhistuvadbhih sumano-’bhivrstah

Manifesting Himself with thousands of hands, the Lord then appeared on the summit of Mandara Mountain, like another great mountain, and held Mandara Mountain with one hand. In the upper planeary systems, Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, along with Indra, King of heaven, and other demigods, offered prayers to the Lord and showered flowers upon Him.

8.7.13

उपर्यधश्चात्मनि गोत्रनेत्रयो: परेण ते प्राविशता समेधिता: । ममन्थुरब्धिं तरसा मदोत्कटा महाद्रिणा क्षोभितनक्रचक्रम् ॥ १३ ॥

upary adhas catmani gotra-netrayoh parena te pravisata samedhitah mamanthur abdhim tarasa madotkata mahadrina ksobhita-nakra-cakram

The demigods and demons worked almost madly for the nectar, encouraged by the Lord, who was above and below the mountain and who had entered the demigods, the demons, Vasuki and the mountain itself. Because of the strength of the demigods and demons, the ocean of milk was so powerfully agitated that all the alligators in the water were very much perturbed. Nonetheless the churning of the ocean continued in this way.

8.7.14

अहीन्द्रसाहस्रकठोरद‍ृङ्‌मुख- श्वासाग्निधूमाहतवर्चसोऽसुरा: । पौलोमकालेयबलील्वलादयो दवाग्निदग्धा: सरला इवाभवन् ॥ १४ ॥

ahindra-sahasra-kathora-drn-mukha- svasagni-dhumahata-varcaso ’surah pauloma-kaleya-balilvaladayo davagni-dagdhah sarala ivabhavan

Vasuki had thousands of eyes and mouths. From his mouths he breathed smoke and blazing fire, which affected the demons, headed by Pauloma, Kaleya, Bali and Ilvala. Thus the demons, who appeared like sarala trees burned by a forest fire, gradually became powerless.

8.7.15

देवांश्च तच्छ्‍वासशिखाहतप्रभान् धूम्राम्बरस्रग्वरकञ्चुकाननान् । समभ्यवर्षन्भगवद्वशा घना ववु: समुद्रोर्म्युपगूढवायव: ॥ १५ ॥

devams ca tac-chvasa-sikha-hata-prabhan dhumrambara-srag-vara-kancukananan samabhyavarsan bhagavad-vasa ghana vavuh samudrormy-upagudha-vayavah

Because the demigods were also affected by the blazing breath of Vasuki, their bodily lusters diminished, and their garments, garlands, weapons and faces were blackened by smoke. However, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, clouds appeared on the sea, pouring torrents of rain, and breezes blew, carrying particles of water from the sea waves, to give the demigods relief.

8.7.16

मथ्यमानात् तथा सिन्धोर्देवासुरवरूथपै: । यदा सुधा न जायेत निर्ममन्थाजित: स्वयम् ॥ १६ ॥

mathyamanat tatha sindhor devasura-varutha-paih yada sudha na jayeta nirmamanthajitah svayam

When nectar did not come from the ocean of milk, despite so much endeavor by the best of the demigods and demons, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Ajita, personally began to churn the ocean.

8.7.17

मेघश्याम: कनकपरिधि: कर्णविद्योतविद्यु- न्मूर्ध्नि भ्राजद्विलुलितकच: स्रग्धरो रक्तनेत्र: । जैत्रैर्दोर्भिर्जगदभयदैर्दन्दशूकं गृहीत्वा मथ्नन् मथ्ना प्रतिगिरिरिवाशोभताथो धृताद्रि: ॥ १७ ॥

megha-syamah kanaka-paridhih karna-vidyota-vidyun murdhni bhrajad-vilulita-kacah srag-dharo rakta-netrah jaitrair dorbhir jagad-abhaya-dair dandasukam grhitva mathnan mathna pratigirir ivasobhatatho dhrtadrih

The Lord appeared like a blackish cloud. He was dressed with yellow garments, His earrings shone on His ears like lightning, and His hair spread over His shoulders. He wore a garland of flowers, and His eyes were pinkish. With His strong, glorious arms, which award fearlessness throughout the universe, He took hold of Vasuki and began churning the ocean, using Mandara Mountain as a churning rod. When engaged in this way, the Lord appeared like a beautifully situated mountain named Indranila.

8.7.18

निर्मथ्यमानादुदधेरभूद्विषं महोल्बणं हालहलाह्वमग्रत: । सम्भ्रान्तमीनोन्मकराहिकच्छपात् तिमिद्विपग्राहतिमिङ्गिलाकुलात् ॥ १८ ॥

nirmathyamanad udadher abhud visam maholbanam halahalahvam agratah sambhranta-minonmakarahi-kacchapat timi-dvipa-graha-timingilakulat

The fish, sharks, tortoises and snakes were most agitated and perturbed. The entire ocean became turbulent, and even the large aquatic animals like whales, water elephants, crocodiles and timingila fish (large whales that can swallow small whales) came to the surface. While the ocean was being churned in this way, it first produced a fiercely dangerous poison called halahala.

8.7.19

तदुग्रवेगं दिशि दिश्युपर्यधो विसर्पदुत्सर्पदसह्यमप्रति । भीता: प्रजा दुद्रुवुरङ्ग सेश्वरा अरक्ष्यमाणा: शरणं सदाशिवम् ॥ १९ ॥

tad ugra-vegam disi disy upary adho visarpad utsarpad asahyam aprati bhitah praja dudruvur anga sesvara araksyamanah saranam sadasivam

O King, when that uncontrollable poison was forcefully spreading up and down in all directions, all the demigods, along with the Lord Himself, approached Lord Siva (Sadasiva). Feeling unsheltered and very much afraid, they sought shelter of him.

8.7.20

विलोक्य तं देववरं त्रिलोक्या भवाय देव्याभिमतं मुनीनाम् । आसीनमद्रावपवर्गहेतो- स्तपो जुषाणं स्तुतिभि: प्रणेमु: ॥ २० ॥

vilokya tam deva-varam tri-lokya bhavaya devyabhimatam muninam asinam adrav apavarga-hetos tapo jusanam stutibhih pranemuh

The demigods observed Lord Siva sitting on the summit of Kailasa Hill with his wife, Bhavani, for the auspicious development of the three worlds. He was being worshiped by great saintly persons desiring liberation. The demigods offered him their obeisances and prayers with great respect.

8.7.21

श्रीप्रजापतय ऊचु: देवदेव महादेव भूतात्मन् भूतभावन । त्राहि न: शरणापन्नांस्त्रैलोक्यदहनाद् विषात् ॥ २१ ॥

sri-prajapataya ucuh deva-deva maha-deva bhutatman bhuta-bhavana trahi nah saranapannams trailokya-dahanad visat

The prajapatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahadeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.

8.7.22

त्वमेक: सर्वजगत ईश्वरो बन्धमोक्षयो: । तं त्वामर्चन्ति कुशला: प्रपन्नार्तिहरं गुरुम् ॥ २२ ॥

tvam ekah sarva-jagata isvaro bandha-moksayoh tam tvam arcanti kusalah prapannarti-haram gurum

O lord, you are the cause of bondage and liberation of the entire universe because you are its ruler. Those who are advanced in spiritual consciousness surrender unto you, and therefore you are the cause of mitigating their distresses, and you are also the cause of their liberation. We therefore worship Your Lordship.

8.7.23

गुणमय्या स्वशक्त्यास्य सर्गस्थित्यप्ययान्विभो । धत्से यदा स्वद‍ृग् भूमन्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवाभिधाम् ॥ २३ ॥

guna-mayya sva-saktyasya sarga-sthity-apyayan vibho dhatse yada sva-drg bhuman brahma-visnu-sivabhidham

O lord, you are self-effulgent and supreme. You create this material world by your personal energy, and you assume the names Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara when you act in creation, maintenance and annihilation.

8.7.24

त्वं ब्रह्म परमं गुह्यं सदसद्भ‍ावभावनम् । नानाशक्तिभिराभातस्त्वमात्मा जगदीश्वर: ॥ २४ ॥

tvam brahma paramam guhyam sad-asad-bhava-bhavanam nana-saktibhir abhatas tvam atma jagad-isvarah

You are the cause of all causes, the self-effulgent, inconceivable, impersonal Brahman, which is originally Parabrahman. You manifest various potencies in this cosmic manifestation.

8.7.25

त्वं शब्दयोनिर्जगदादिरात्मा प्राणेन्द्रियद्रव्यगुण: स्वभाव: । काल: क्रतु: सत्यमृतं च धर्म- स्त्वय्यक्षरं यत् त्रिवृदामनन्ति ॥ २५ ॥

tvam sabda-yonir jagad-adir atma pranendriya-dravya-gunah svabhavah kalah kratuh satyam rtam ca dharmas tvayy aksaram yat tri-vrd-amananti

O lord, you are the original source of Vedic literature. You are the original cause of material creation, the life force, the senses, the five elements, the three modes and the mahat-tattva. You are eternal time, determination and the two religious systems called truth (satya) and truthfulness (rta). You are the shelter of the syllable om, which consists of three letters a-u-m.

8.7.26

अग्निर्मुखं तेऽखिलदेवतात्मा क्षितिं विदुर्लोकभवाङ्‍‍घ्रिपङ्कजम् । कालं गतिं तेऽखिलदेवतात्मनो दिशश्च कर्णौ रसनं जलेशम् ॥ २६ ॥

agnir mukham te ’khila-devatatma ksitim vidur loka-bhavanghri-pankajam kalam gatim te ’khila-devatatmano disas ca karnau rasanam jalesam

O father of all planes, learned scholars know that fire is your mouth, the surface of the globe is your lotus feet, eternal time is your movement, all the directions are your ears, and Varuna, master of the waters, is your tongue.

8.7.27

नाभिर्नभस्ते श्वसनं नभस्वान् सूर्यश्च चक्षूंषि जलं स्म रेत: । परावरात्माश्रयणं तवात्मा सोमो मनो द्यौर्भगवन् शिरस्ते ॥ २७ ॥

nabhir nabhas te svasanam nabhasvan suryas ca caksumsi jalam sma retah paravaratmasrayanam tavatma somo mano dyaur bhagavan siras te

O lord, the sky is your navel, the air is your breathing, the sun is your eyes, and the water is your semen. You are the shelter of all kinds of living entities, high and low. The god of the moon is your mind, and the upper planeary system is your head.

8.7.28

कुक्षि: समुद्रा गिरयोऽस्थिसङ्घा रोमाणि सर्वौषधिवीरुधस्ते । छन्दांसि साक्षात् तव सप्त धातव- स्त्रयीमयात्मन् हृदयं सर्वधर्म: ॥ २८ ॥

kuksih samudra girayo ’sthi-sangha romani sarvausadhi-virudhas te chandamsi saksat tava sapta dhatavas trayi-mayatman hrdayam sarva-dharmah

O lord, you are the three Vedas personified. The seven seas are your abdomen, and the mountains are your bones. All drugs, creepers and vegetables are the hairs on your body, the Vedic mantras like Gayatri are the seven layers of your body, and the Vedic religious system is the core of your heart.

8.7.29

मुखानि पञ्चोपनिषदस्तवेश यैस्त्रिंशदष्टोत्तरमन्त्रवर्ग: । यत् तच्छिवाख्यं परमात्मतत्त्वं देव स्वयंज्योतिरवस्थितिस्ते ॥ २९ ॥

mukhani pancopanisadas tavesa yais trimsad-astottara-mantra-vargah yat tac chivakhyam paramatma-tattvam deva svayam-jyotir avasthitis te

O lord, the five important Vedic mantras are represented by your five faces, from which the thirty-eight most celebrated Vedic mantras have been generated. Your Lordship, being celebrated as Lord Siva, is self-illuminated. You are directly situated as the supreme truth, known as Paramatma.

8.7.30

छाया त्वधर्मोर्मिषु यैर्विसर्गो नेत्रत्रयं सत्त्वरजस्तमांसि । साङ्ख्यात्मन: शास्त्रकृतस्तवेक्षा छन्दोमयो देव ऋषि: पुराण: ॥ ३० ॥

chaya tv adharmormisu yair visargo netra-trayam sattva-rajas-tamamsi sankhyatmanah sastra-krtas taveksa chandomayo deva rsih puranah

O lord, your shadow is seen in irreligion, which brings about varieties of irreligious creations. The three modes of nature—goodness, passion and ignorance—are your three eyes. All the Vedic literatures, which are full of verses, are emanations from you because their compilers wrote the various scriptures after receiving your glance.

8.7.31

न ते गिरित्राखिललोकपाल- विरिञ्चवैकुण्ठसुरेन्द्रगम्यम् । ज्योति: परं यत्र रजस्तमश्च सत्त्वं न यद् ब्रह्म निरस्तभेदम् ॥ ३१ ॥

na te giri-trakhila-loka-pala- virinca-vaikuntha-surendra-gamyam jyotih param yatra rajas tamas ca sattvam na yad brahma nirasta-bhedam

O Lord Girisa, since the impersonal Brahman effulgence is transcendental to the material modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, the various directors of this material world certainly cannot appreciate it or even know where it is. It is not understandable even to Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu or the King of heaven, Mahendra.

8.7.32

कामाध्वरत्रिपुरकालगराद्यनेक- भूतद्रुह: क्षपयत: स्तुतये न तत् ते । यस्त्वन्तकाल इदमात्मकृतं स्वनेत्र- वह्निस्फुलिङ्गशिखया भसितं न वेद ॥ ३२ ॥

kamadhvara-tripura-kalagarady-aneka- bhuta-druhah ksapayatah stutaye na tat te yas tv anta-kala idam atma-krtam sva-netra- vahni-sphulinga-sikhaya bhasitam na veda

When annihilation is performed by the flames and sparks emanating from your eyes, the entire creation is burned to ashes. Nonetheless, you do not know how this happens. What then is to be said of your destroying the Daksa-yajna, Tripurasura and the kalakuta poison? Such activities cannot be subject matters for prayers offered to you.

8.7.33

ये त्वात्मरामगुरुभिर्हृदि चिन्तिताङ्‍‍घ्रि- द्वन्द्वं चरन्तमुमया तपसाभितप्तम् । कत्थन्त उग्रपरुषं निरतं श्मशाने ते नूनमूतिमविदंस्तव हातलज्जा: ॥ ३३ ॥

ye tv atma-rama-gurubhir hrdi cintitanghri- dvandvam carantam umaya tapasabhitaptam katthanta ugra-parusam niratam smasane te nunam utim avidams tava hata-lajjah

Exalted, self-satisfied persons who preach to the entire world think of your lotus feet constantly within their hearts. However, when persons who do not know your austerity see you moving with Uma, they misunderstand you to be lusty, or when they see you wandering in the crematorium they mistakenly think that you are ferocious and envious. Certainly they are shameless. They cannot understand your activities.

8.7.34

तत् तस्य ते सदसतो: परत: परस्य नाञ्ज: स्वरूपगमने प्रभवन्ति भूम्न: । ब्रह्मादय: किमुत संस्तवने वयं तु तत्सर्गसर्गविषया अपि शक्तिमात्रम् ॥ ३४ ॥

tat tasya te sad-asatoh paratah parasya nanjah svarupa-gamane prabhavanti bhumnah brahmadayah kim uta samstavane vayam tu tat-sarga-sarga-visaya api sakti-matram

Even personalities like Lord Brahma and other demigods cannot understand your position, for you are beyond the moving and nonmoving creation. Since no one can understand you in truth, how can one offer you prayers? It is impossible. As far as we are concerned, we are creatures of Lord Brahma’s creation. Under the circumstances, therefore, we cannot offer you adequate prayers, but as far as our ability allows, we have expressed our feelings.

8.7.35

एतत् परं प्रपश्यामो न परं ते महेश्वर । मृडनाय हि लोकस्य व्यक्तिस्तेऽव्यक्तकर्मण: ॥ ३५ ॥

etat param prapasyamo na param te mahesvara mrdanaya hi lokasya vyaktis te ’vyakta-karmanah

O greatest of all rulers, your actual identity is impossible for us to understand. As far as we can see, your presence brings flourishing happiness to everyone. Beyond this, no one can appreciate your activities. We can see this much, and nothing more.

8.7.36

श्रीशुक उवाच तद्वीक्ष्य व्यसनं तासां कृपया भृशपीडित: । सर्वभूतसुहृद् देव इदमाह सतीं प्रियाम् ॥ ३६ ॥

sri-suka uvaca tad-viksya vyasanam tasam krpaya bhrsa-piditah sarva-bhuta-suhrd deva idam aha satim priyam

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Lord Siva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Sati, as follows.

8.7.37

श्रीशिव उवाच अहो बत भवान्येतत् प्रजानां पश्य वैशसम् । क्षीरोदमथनोद्भ‍ूतात् कालकूटादुपस्थितम् ॥ ३७ ॥

sri-siva uvaca aho bata bhavany etat prajanam pasya vaisasam ksiroda-mathanodbhutat kalakutad upasthitam

Lord Siva said: My dear Bhavani, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk.

8.7.38

आसां प्राणपरीप्सूनां विधेयमभयं हि मे । एतावान्हि प्रभोरर्थो यद् दीनपरिपालनम् ॥ ३८ ॥

asam prana-paripsunam vidheyam abhayam hi me etavan hi prabhor artho yad dina-paripalanam

It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents.

8.7.39

प्राणै: स्वै: प्राणिन: पान्ति साधव: क्षणभङ्गुरै: । बद्धवैरेषु भूतेषु मोहितेष्वात्ममायया ॥ ३९ ॥

pranaih svaih praninah panti sadhavah ksana-bhanguraih baddha-vairesu bhutesu mohitesv atma-mayaya

People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them.

8.7.40

पुंस: कृपयतो भद्रे सर्वात्मा प्रीयते हरि: । प्रीते हरौ भगवति प्रीयेऽहं सचराचर: । तस्मादिदं गरं भुञ्जे प्रजानां स्वस्तिरस्तु मे ॥ ४० ॥

pumsah krpayato bhadre sarvatma priyate harih prite harau bhagavati priye ’ham sacaracarah tasmad idam garam bhunje prajanam svastir astu me

My dear gentle wife Bhavani, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.

8.7.41

श्रीशुक उवाच एवमामन्‍त्र्य भगवान्भवानीं विश्वभावन: । तद् विषं जग्धुमारेभे प्रभावज्ञान्वमोदत ॥ ४१ ॥

sri-suka uvaca evam amantrya bhagavan bhavanim visva-bhavanah tad visam jagdhum arebhe prabhava-jnanvamodata

Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After informing Bhavani in this way, Lord Siva began to drink the poison, and Bhavani, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Siva, gave him her permission to do so.

8.7.42

तत: करतलीकृत्य व्यापि हालाहलं विषम् । अभक्षयन्महादेव: कृपया भूतभावन: ॥ ४२ ॥

tatah karatali-krtya vyapi halahalam visam abhaksayan maha-devah krpaya bhuta-bhavanah

Thereafter, Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.

8.7.43

तस्यापि दर्शयामास स्ववीर्यं जलकल्मष: । यच्चकार गले नीलं तच्च साधोर्विभूषणम् ॥ ४३ ॥

tasyapi darsayam asa sva-viryam jala-kalmasah yac cakara gale nilam tac ca sadhor vibhusanam

As if in defamation, the poison born from the ocean of milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Siva’s neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord.

8.7.44

तप्यन्ते लोकतापेन साधव: प्रायशो जना: । परमाराधनं तद्धि पुरुषस्याखिलात्मन: ॥ ४४ ॥

tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah paramaradhanam tad dhi purusasyakhilatmanah

It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.

8.7.45

निशम्य कर्म तच्छम्भोर्देवदेवस्य मीढुष: । प्रजा दाक्षायणी ब्रह्मा वैकुण्ठश्च शशंसिरे ॥ ४५ ॥

nisamya karma tac chambhor deva-devasya midhusah praja daksayani brahma vaikunthas ca sasamsire

Upon hearing of this act, everyone, including Bhavani (the daughter of Maharaja Daksa), Lord Brahma, Lord Visnu, and the people in general, very highly praised this deed performed by Lord Siva, who is worshiped by the demigods and who bestows benedictions upon the people.

8.7.46

प्रस्कन्नं पिबत: पाणेर्यत् किञ्चिज्जगृहु: स्म तत् । वृश्चिकाहिविषौषध्यो दन्दशूकाश्च येऽपरे ॥ ४६ ॥

praskannam pibatah paner yat kincij jagrhuh sma tat vrscikahi-visausadhyo dandasukas ca ye ’pare

Scorpions, cobras, poisonous drugs and other animals whose bites are poisonous took the opportunity to drink whatever little poison had fallen and scattered from Lord Siva’s hand while he was drinking.